Football checklist

Let's see. In order:

Dolphins have the game firmly in hand, then blow the huge lead (with help from a mildly disputable call that will allow their fans to whine for months)? Check.

Jets spank the living crap out of the Packers, making Brett Favre look like Ben Stiller in the process? Check.

Jets clinch the AFC East, after everyone (including yours truly) gave up on their season? Check.

The Browns (my other favorite AFC team) make the playoffs as well as a result? Check.

Both the Dolphins and the Pats have to sit out the playoffs? Check.

Overall, a good football day. :-)

(note: I have nothing against Favre or the Pack on days when they're not playing the Jets)

Bloody insomnia

Normally, I'm a victim of type A insomnia -- the one that doesn't let you sleep. But for a change, I sometime try out type B, in which you sleep for a bit, then wake up and remain so for the rest of the night. Tonight is such a night.

I woke up about an hour and a half ago, in the midst of a dream. Unusually enough, I remember at least a little bit of it: Harlan Ellison and I were having a nice dinner at Burrito Art, and discussing Mary Doria Russell's The Sparrow. I can't, alas, remember whether he liked it or not. Since both Ellison and Russell have come up in conversation during the last week, I'm not shocked or confused by the subject matter of the dream, but I'd love to know his opinion, as well as which esoteric burrito he ordered.

Things not to read before bed

So, to kill the time, I reread a bunch of graphic novels. Most were superhero or mystery, but the final three were:

Strange Kisses
Stranger Kisses (both by Warren Ellis)

and

The Thick Black Kiss (by Howard Chaykin)

It's a good thing I reread these on an insomniac night. None of these would lead to pleasant dreams.

All are highly recommended, however, if you've got a taste for extreme horror (for the Ellis books) or perverse supernatural noir (the Chaykin one).

(no subject)

Jesus Fucking Christ on an Oversized Toothpick. I am tired.

I was seriously tempted to head up to the stacks and try to sleep for an hour or two. My only fear is that I'd crash so hard, I'd sleep for seven hours or something.

A request for Atlanta folks: If I've loaned you my copy of FIght Club, or the first volume of Planetary, could you please return it, or at least let me know you've got it? I've got no idea who has those two items.

Anyway, I've come back to work to discover that all of the conference creation work that Kathy was supposedly doing from home last week didn't get done. Not one fucking lick. Which means I've got a busy day (although not nearly as crappy as what some of you are dealing with -- general *hugs* to all). So I'm off to try to make up for someone else's slack.

Empire Records -- special edition!

From DVDReview.com:

Warner Brothers Home Entertainment is revisiting a fan favorite this summer with a new twist. Empire Records Bootleg Cut - Special Fan Edition isn’t just a longer name, it’s a longer version of the film with additional footage set for a special edition release.
The new disc will contain an anamorphic widescreen transfer with a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack complimented by an audio commentary with director Allan Moyle. Trailers and music videos will also be included on the disc.
Set for a release on June 3rd, 2003, the disc will retail for $24.95.


I. Must. Own. This. DVD.